Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-10-28


She was indeed IN object of pity; her poor
members trembled and shook with nervous
tension. She had hoped that Raymond would
console her with kind word. but his lips re-
manned closed.
at was she! She lied to mel She would
lie 10 me again. Why! must know, and l
win know"
And Julia, who understood, closed her
weary eyes, wishing to hide the phantom
that stood between her and her idolizci son.
Raymond passed his days and nights il
consulting and studying the case OF Roger
Laroque. He weighed the testimony word
by word as if his own life trembled in the
balance. That which drew his attention was
that suddenly, in the very midst of his
most eloquent plea, his father had fallcn nmd
Roger, who had sustained his innocence until
then, rose and said:
search no more, am guilty"
Raymond found a friend of his fathers
who had witnessed this tragic end, and he
told Raymond Of the letter that he had seen
handed 10 Lucier, who had at first appeared
much affected by its contents, but he after
ward had rallied and continued his plea
until death overlook him there. Perhaps
this lett \ was the key to the whole mystery
As Raymond sat thinking on this subject
thought flashed into his mind.
He wore his gown. | have it here. Who
knows but that letter is in the pocket"
That black silk gown had been laid away
among the legal papers, and Raymond had
taken it and folded it tenderly and brought
it with him TO his little apartment in Paris.
He now unfolded it and felt in the pocket,
which was made deep and wide to hold pa
pers of moment. = There in tho bottom,
crushed rs that dead hand lad crushed it in
shame and dishonor, was the note which had
killed Lucien as surely as if it had been real
poison, instead of the treachery of those he
best loved.
Long hours this poor boy sat with this aw-
full proof before his aching eyes.
"Mother, oh, my mother" ne groaned.
He had loved his mother SO. Now he found
that she had been a criminal. She was TIE
woman!
1t was all clear now. Had she loved Roger
at the date of the trial she would have come
forward and proved him innocent; but she
did not, and that proved that this was ven
geance. And the dates of the events in that
vengeance had been written on his mutilated
photograph by the hand that prepared this
vengeance. Laroque had told the truth.
Julia was the guilty one, and he saw all that
life held that was precious to him slipping
away, and Suzanne was lost to him foreverl
1t was not alone because he loved his native
country that Laroque had returned to France.
He wished to clear his name from the false
charge of murder. He was now in Paris
searching, searching everywhere, everything
and every place which could give him the
least idea of what could be the solution of this
mystery. He haunted the club where he won
the 80 1000 francs, but all to no purpose, and at
last he saw that he should need the services of
two expert detectives. He remembered the
names and regulations of Tristot and Pyolot,
and he decided upon employing them. Hav-
ing now as a starting point the explanation
that Suzanne had given him, he wanted to
find the man who had SO resembled him as to
deceive his own wife and child.
So he presented himself at the pretty and
tasteful abode of these two famous detectives,
and told them that he wished TO engage their
services in difficult and delicate matter,
which should be largely paid for.
"You already know something of this mat
ter" said Roger, sand you will remember it
well when | tell you that it relates TO the
murder of Larouette, and tho condemnation
of Roger l.aroque for the crime he did not
commit"
'ibuU ne confessed himself guilty"
because the shadow of the crime he did
commit lay heavier on him than the one ho
did not Listen now until you hear the truth
Of this affair from beginning to end, and then
| would like your opinion"
Roger then began 1t the beginning and told
all we know, even giving the name Of Julia
De Noryille, and when he had finished his
auditors, accustomed as they were TO strange
tales looked completely dumfounded.
! "But how do you know all of thisi'
because ! am Roger Laroque, and have
come t. Nh.u4catc my name az tlr risk of my
life. trus in your Aonor, and place my life
and that OF ~ child in your hands"
The two detectives looked at each other in
Silence, and then as 10y one common accord
they rose and offered Roger their lands
which he took with n grateful heart. lie
knew he had found friends. Tristot spoke:
Eve must put aside as impossible the actua
guilt of Nine De Noiryille, though She may
have inspired il or have been an accomplict
III some way, but if We find any indication OF
her glliit We shall follow her up in pI1yat,
until you give us other orders. Now remains
the club. Did you know all the players thert
that night! 1t may be that there was prcsen
an ancient or new lover of Mime. De Noi'
vile. Think we'll"
II cannot inlag mo Of any person who coulc
have held such position. The only poculin
incident was thai my friend the Baron D.
Cey spoke to some one, thinking it me, callinI
him by my namo and touching his shoulder
Inotir,l the man, as De Cey told me laugh
, ingly OF the roncontre. He was large, tall
, dark and woro his hair and beard as | did
, His eyes, however, were different and tn
eyebrows bushy. In the evening or in tn
day one could easily mistake this man TO
5 me at the first glance. He had recently bee
received into the club, and do not remen
Der to have seen him there before, and as yo
, can imagine mover went there after. Ii
name is Luyersan."